Night Below

Night Below
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Celtic cross
A Celtic cross places a circle around the arms of a Latin cross. A cross within a circle or cross with multiple rays like spokes from a wheel is an emblem of the sun and is found on many stone carvings and objects prior to Christianity. The sun cross became the Celtic cross, uniting Christ with the luminous and cosmic power of the sun. Today, there are 60 to 70 remaining Irish High Crosses.The average height is over 10 feet. A few (Monasterboice) are as tall as 22 feet. Including all the British Isles, about 300 high cross monuments remain out of the several thousand. Many were destroyed during anti-Catholic periods. The large stone crosses developed from different influences, Egyptian and Armenian as well as Celtic. Biblical and local scenes were carved on the fairly soft (mostly sandstone) stone crosses. These crosses are generally found on or near monastic sites. Irish High crosses were used to mark boundaries, for gatherings and instruction, and for prayer. Some crosses request a prayer for the person who donated the cross. Originally, like illuminated manuscripts, the crosses were most likely brightly painted.

Allen, 131; Henry, 13-14; Richardson, 21; Streit, 114.

Greek cross
A Greek cross has arms of equal length. While the Latin cross is identified with the crucifixion, the Greek cross is usually considered a sign of God. In many ways it is the graphic sign preeminent in the church and Christian society. In equal proportions, the space between the arms is often filled with other signs or abbreviations, as with the Jerusalem cross and the Greek insignia with ICXC and NIKA. From this basic form, most of the crosses in heradry were developed, which greatly expanded the variety of cross forms. The Greek cross is often found carved or marked on church furnishings and is the shape of the consecration cross. The Red Cross uses the form in the west (a red crescent is used in non-Christian countries). Symbols are also added to the arms. In the example here, the circles may indicate the wounds of Christ or may just be deocration.